Taliban insurgents attack Bagram Air Base

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 19 (UPI) -- Seven Afghan insurgents died and five U.S. soldiers were wounded when insurgents attacked the U.S. air base in Bagram early Wednesday, the military said.

The attack came a day after a suicide vehicle bomb attack near a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital Kabul, about 50 miles north of the Bagram base, killed five U.S. troops, a Canadian officer and about a dozen Afghan civilians.

A gun battle ensued after the Taliban insurgents launched the assault on the Bagram base, The New York Times reported. Five U.S. soldiers were wounded, the American command said.

CNN, quoting an army spokesman, said a building at the base sustained minor damage. The spokesman described the attack as "ongoing" and said it "included rockets, small arms and grenades."

Bagram spokeswoman Maj. Virginia McCabe said the attack began early in the morning and was continuing in "the vicinity of Bagram," CNN reported.

The New York Times quoted the Taliban as saying four suicide bombers blew themselves up near the gates of the base and claimed 30 insurgents had entered the base. Those claims could not be confirmed but NATO spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Iain Baxter said no insurgent entered the base.

Authorities could not say whether flights had been suspended at the heavily fortified base surrounded by high fences and thick, concrete walls, CNN reported.

The Los Angeles Times reported U.S. officials downplayed the significance of the incident.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.